Morgan Edge

Morgan Edge first appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #133 and was created by Jack Kirby.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=99}} Kirby based his physical appearance on actor Kevin McCarthy, while his personality was inspired by television executive James T. Aubrey.{{cite journal|last=Wells|first=John |title=Bullies and Blowhards of the DC Bronze Age |journal=Back Issue!|issue=#91|pages=15–16 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing| date=September 2016|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}} According to Kirby's production assistant Mark Evanier, Kirby "wanted to explore the theme of organized crime gaining a foothold in corporate America - particularly a giant media conglomerate. Given the shady background of the company that acquired Warner Bros. and DC [i.e. Kinney National Company], it was something of an inside joke." However, under prodding from editorial staff who preferred Edge to be an ongoing supporting character rather than a villain who would ultimately have to be brought to justice (and thus written out of the series), the "Morgan Edge" connected to Intergang was revealed to be an imposter.

In his original incarnation, Edge was the president of the Galaxy Broadcasting System (owners of television station WGBS), a media corporation that eventually bought the Daily Planet. Edge was in many ways a stereotype of a ruthless capitalist, intervening in the Planet{{'}}s homey atmosphere and challenging the authority of the somewhat older Perry White, but he was a decent man who had moments of good-heartedness and maintained reasonably friendly relationships with most of his employees, including Clark Kent. Following the takeover of the Planet, Edge transferred Kent to the news division, making him a traveling correspondent and later anchorman on WGBS. This move added several TV co-workers to the Superman supporting cast, including fretful producer Josh Coyle, sports broadcaster Steve Lombard,{{Cite comic | writer = Cary Bates | penciller = Curt Swan | inker = Murphy Anderson | story = Secret of the Phantom Quarterback! | title = Superman | volume = | issue = #264 | date = June 1973 | publisher = DC Comics | location = | page = | panel = | id = }} weather forecaster Oscar Asherman, and co-anchor Lana Lang (who had been one of Clark's childhood friends in Smallville).

As one of the wealthiest men in Metropolis, Edge was a major political figure in the city and frequently encountered Superman, the subject of many of his network's news stories, whom he, like most others, failed to realize was also Clark Kent. Although rarely integral to a plotline, Edge was a supporting character in many Superman stories.

For a while, it appeared that Edge was connected to the Apokolips-sponsored crime organisation Intergang, but this was revealed to be a clone created by the 'Evil Factory', a genetics laboratory working for Darkseid.Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #152 (September 1972). DC Comics. For example, this clone attempted to have Jimmy Olsen, the Guardian and, incidentally, a random Daily Planet employee named Goody Rickels, a Don Rickles lookalike, murdered as part of a cover-up.Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #139 (August 1971). DC Comics.

It was later revealed that Morgan Edge is Jewish and was born Morris Edelstein before changing his name, as he was ashamed of his background and worked to keep it secret.Action Comics #468. DC Comics.

When DC continuity was rebooted after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Edge remained president of WGBS, but his ties to the Planet and friendship with Superman were retconned away, and he was genuinely connected to Intergang. He was eventually exposed by the Daily Planet, in articles by Clark Kent and Cat Grant, who was working for WGBS undercover. Edge was imprisoned, but even managed to cause trouble there by publishing his autobiography On the Edge, which dumped upon his father Vincent Edge as well as Cat Grant, revealing that she slept her way into a scoop. After his release from jail, Morgan Edge returned as sponsor of the Superman Revenge Squad. Prior to his imprisonment, one of his actions generated much fan anger, in which Edge sadistically and gleefully ran over a raccoon on the road, prompting one fan to write in saying "Lex Luthor treats people like animals, but even he does not run them over intentionally".

Recently, Morgan Edge has resurfaced as a powerful media pundit, with the show Edge of Reason, where he gives off anti-Kryptonian spin for General Lane. He is also seen in a "flash-forward" panel in Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #1, making a mysterious deal with Despero.Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #1. DC Comics.

In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. Morgan Edge appears as a powerful and self-centered media mogul and the new owner of the Daily Planet, he is seen as the sponsor of the Challengers of the Unknown program before they all leave due to his ruthless business strategy. This version of Morgan Edge is depicted as a bald African American man with a goatee.Superman (vol. 3) #1 (October 2011). DC Comics. Although a tough businessman, Edge did recognize talent, and awarded Lois Lane the editorship of the Daily Planet.

Edge's multiple media holdings become a benefit to Superman as Lois Lane, now director of Edge's Metropolis news station, has said building's security cameras "hacked" to provide vital intelligence on a rampaging villain.Superman (vol. 3) #2 (December 2011). DC Comics.

Prior to DC Rebirth, in the last issue of the 2011 Justice League series, it is mentioned that Lex Luthor had bought the Daily Planet from him.Justice League (vol. 2) #52. DC Comics.

• Morgan Edge appears in Smallville, initially portrayed by Rutger Hauer and later by Patrick Bergin. This version is a Metropolis crime lord and old friend of Lionel Luthor, who he grew up with in Suicide Slum. He later conspires with Lionel to break Lex Luthor's psyche before being killed.
• Morgan Edge appears in the Justice League episode "Secret Society", voiced by an uncredited Brian George. This version is a collector of unique oddities and displays no moral qualms against collecting sentient beings, such as Clayface, whom he kept in a jar for some time until the eponymous Secret Society rescues him.
• Morgan Edge appears in the third season of Supergirl, portrayed by Adrian Pasdar.{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2017/07/22/supergirl-season-3-spoilers-adrian-pasdar-yael-grobglas-cast/|title=Supergirl Season 3 Adds Adrian Pasdar, Yael Grobglas and Alias' Carl Lumbly|first1=Andy|last1=Swift|date=22 July 2017}} This version is an amoral real estate developer who runs Edge Global.
• Morgan Edge appears in Superman & Lois, portrayed by Adam Rayner.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/superman-and-lois-adam-rayner-as-series-regular-morgan-edge-the-cw-1234658041/|title='Superman & Lois' Adds 'Tyrant' Star Adam Rayner As Morgan Edge|first1=Dino-Ray|last1=Ramos|date=December 17, 2020}} This version is a Kryptonian named Tal-Rho, the son of Lara Lor-Van and Zeta-Rho (portrayed by A.C. Peterson) and the maternal half-brother of Superman. Like Superman, Tal-Rho was also sent off of Krypton in an escape pod. After landing in England, he comes into conflict with the local townspeople and is captured and experimented on, developing a hatred of humanity in the process. After escaping, he develops the identity of "Morgan Edge", an intelligent, eloquent, and impassioned self-made mogul and the head of EnerCorp and Galaxy Holdings. In the first season, he enacts a plot to resurrect Krypton on Earth by implanting Kryptonian consciousnesses into human hosts using X-Kryptonite and the Eradicator, only to be defeated by Superman and John Henry Irons and remanded to a cell with red solar lighting. In the second season, Tal-Rho assists Superman in fighting Ally Allston before relocating to the Inverse World.
• Tal-Rho's Inverse World counterpart appears in the episode "Bizarros in a Bizarro World", also portrayed by Rayner. He is married to his version of Lana Lang and is on good terms with Bizarro before being killed by Allston.

Morgan Edge appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=April 25, 2024 |website=IGN}}

• List of Superman enemies

• [http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/who/who-intro.php?topic=edge-morgan Superman Homepage: Morgan Edge]
• [http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=morganedgeprec DCU Guide: Morgan Edge Pre-Crisis chronology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930045918/http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=morganedgeprec |date=2007-09-30 }}
• [http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=morganedgeclone DCU Guide: Morgan Edge Clone Pre-Crisis chronology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031612/http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=morganedgeclone |date=2007-09-30 }}
• [http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=morganedge DCU Guide: Morgan Edge Post-Crisis chronology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930041134/http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=morganedge |date=2007-09-30 }}

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{{Superman characters}}

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{{Jack Kirby}}

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Category:DC Comics male supervillains

Category:Fictional businesspeople

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1970

Category:Fictional gangsters

Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby

Category:Clone characters in comics

Category:Superman characters

Category:Fictional American Jews

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